Gypsy Rose Blanchard, notorious for plotting and orchestrating her mother's murder, has been released from prison three years ahead of schedule. The 32-year-old was serving a 10-year term for the second-degree murder of her mother, Clauddine "Dee Dee" Blanchard, in a case that captivated the nation and inspired TV adaptations.
Blanchard's early release, confirmed by the Missouri Department of Corrections, comes amid a media frenzy that followed her mother's death in June 2015. The murder, carried out by Blanchard's then-boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn, unfolded in the Blanchard home in Springfield, Missouri.
The case gained widespread attention as prosecutors argued that Dee Dee Blanchard suffered from Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a disorder where a caregiver fabricates or induces illness in the person they care for. The media frenzy surrounding the case inspired Hulu's 2019 series "The Act" and HBO's 2017 documentary film "Mommy Dead and Dearest."
Blanchard, who claimed abuse and manipulation by her mother, spent years isolated from the world and homeschooled. Charitable donations, a wheelchair-accessible house, a Disney World trip, and a meeting with Miranda Lambert through the Make-a-Wish Foundation added complexity to the narrative.
In a recent interview, Blanchard expressed regret for her mother's death, acknowledging her lack of understanding at the time. The case continues to raise questions about the boundaries of accountability and the complexities of familial relationships
